Industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole-cell processes for the utilization of C1 building blocks

Abstract Chemicals produced through enzymatic reactions play a key role in the transition from a linear petrol-dependent to a circular bioeconomy. One promising approach is the conversion of single carbon (C1) molecules by biocatalysts to value-added products. Although progress has been made, curren...

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Main Authors: Giovanni Davide Barone, Ina Somvilla, Hannah Pia Franziska Meier, Anna Christina R. Ngo, Thomas Bayer, Fabio Parmeggiani, Viktoria Rehbein, Johann A. Hlina, Pablo Domínguez de María, Uwe T. Bornscheuer, Dirk Tischler, Sandy Schmidt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60777-3
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Summary:Abstract Chemicals produced through enzymatic reactions play a key role in the transition from a linear petrol-dependent to a circular bioeconomy. One promising approach is the conversion of single carbon (C1) molecules by biocatalysts to value-added products. Although progress has been made, current biological methods remain less cost-competitive than established chemical processes. Here, we review how single and multi-enzyme transformations, natural C1-trophic microorganisms, and organisms with transplanted synthetic C1 assimilation pathways can synergize to strengthen the competitiveness of C1-based biomanufacturing. To explore the current state-of-the-art and assess the potential of C1 biomanufacturing, we highlight the aforementioned bio-based methodologies and evaluate their industrial applicability through an overview of granted patents.
ISSN:2041-1723